May 28, 2014.

Hey!!

So I'm gonna write it all together this week.
First of all, you guys went to Disneyland!! I haven't been there in
sooooo long.. Like 6 years. That's awesome that you guys were able to
go how you did (: I'm glad you enjoyed your weekend!!!
So, last Saturday we had a baptism. It was awesome! We baptized
Manuel, and another set of missionaries baptized a family, so we had 4
baptisms as a district. It was awesome! The baptism went really well,
Manuel's kids came and his little 8 year old son told us he wants to
be baptized now.. So he'll probly be baptized in 2 or 3 weeks! Cool
right? Sunday we had a fireside with our mission president. He is
awesome, I always learn so much from him! I also sang a duet with
another missionary for the musical number.. I think it went well?
Since Sunday things have Been a little crazy.. Before we started the
fireside President Morgan Pulled me aside and told me that another
missionary was sick in the city and was most likely gonna have to go
home on Tuesday (yesterday) and he asked me if I would be willing to
go take his place if he ended up going home.. I said yes. So I got a
call around noon yesterday from the assistants telling me I had like
three hours to pack and then I had to meet them at the mission home..
I only had time to say bye to one family /:  Do you remember Elder
Critchfield? My "son" .. Well, he has a bad case of mononucleosis and
was bed-ridden for the last two weeks. He went home yesterday, and I
came to north Manhattan to take his place. I'm really sad he is home
/: the assistants brought me here yesterday and I got to see elder
Critchfield before they took him to the airport.. That was really
nice- he is supposed to come back to the mission field within two or
three months- I really hope that's true!
I'm pretty sad I had to leave Stamford. I love that place! But I know
I'm needed elsewhere! My zona right now is north manhattan. Otherwise
known as Inwood. Or Washington Heights aka Dominican Heights. EVERYONE
is Dominican here haha my specific area is from 155th st. to 170th st.
From river to river. Remember Rucker park, the place I played ball at
last week? Well, that's in my area haha pretty cool right (: my
companion's name is Elder Cruz! From Tijuana!! Holla haha team bean! I
actually lived with him a year ago when I was in the Bronx, so we
already know each other which is good! Another weird thing is that I'm
Zone Leader again. Definitely did not expect for that to happen! So
yeah. Things are really crazy right now. Transfers are two weeks from
tomorrow, so who knows, I might just be here for two weeks to fill the
gap and then get transferred again. It wouldn't surprise me, I've been
all over the place! Or I could just finish my mission here. We will
just have to wait and see.
I'm not sure what we are doing today. We might go play basketball, but
the assistants invited me to go to the natural history museum with
them. And elder Cruz knows somebody who works there so we could go
into the extra exhibits for free, so we might go do that, I'm not
sure! I still feel pretty weird, I didn't expect to be where I am haha
I am trying to just stay positive and enjoy the journey. I know The
Lord Has a plan and he wouldn't put me here if there wasn't a purpose
for it. I love you guys, thank you for your prayers and your support!
Cuídense!

May 21, 2014.

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Pops.

What's up! What did President Burnham tell you we had to do? Aww man, today was your last day of school! That's awesome (: and weird.. School out here doesn't get out until the middle of June.. How do you feel about teaching summer school? It's crazy how events mark check points like that.. It makes time pass a little bit faster! Haha that's so awesome that you are getting perfect scores for your "grades" at AT&T.. It doesn't surprise me at all! 

I'm doing great! Transfer are June 11th.. So three weeks from today? In regards to travel, we like to take the bikes as much as we can, but sometimes we are so packed that if we take the bikes we won't make it to all of our appointments on time, so we need to take the car just to save travel time. It's nice having the option of either bike or car.. Especially when it rains, we never have to get wet! Dile a abeto y Maricruz que también los extraño y les mando mucho amor! 

Madre.

Estoy muy bien!! Y tu? Have you been to the doctor to have your knee checked? Or are you just assuming that you will have to get surgery? That's rough :/ is it the same knee? I'm sure you've told me but I can't remember if it is.. Wait so is dad's work gonna provide the tablets for them? That's really cool! Haha tablets are taking over.. 

Jason is graduating?! That's crazy to me too! Everyone is so grown up.. Also, yes, I've seen pictures of Karla's graduation! And the dinner! Or at least I'll try not to haha! 

Stuff!

We were crazy busy last week. We taught 31 lessons again. Things are going really well for us! We are actually going to have a baptism on Saturday (: I'm pretty excited, it's been almost a year since I've been a part of one.. The guy getting baptized is named Manuel Contreras. He is soooo ready! He is really committed and willing to live the gospel.. When we were at his house on Saturday he told us he was originally planning on getting baptized in September, but when he thought about it he realized he doesn't need to wait that long. So he asked us if he could be baptized on the 24th. We had already taught him everything, so in Sunday he had his baptismal interview and he is good to go (: we have a few other investigators who are sooo close! We may or may not be having another baptism on the 31st.. Una dominicana! We are definitely seeing the fruits of our labors here and I'm so glad. Being in this area/ward and having awesome companions is really helping me stay more focused than I think I would be if I were to be serving anywhere else. 

This weekend we are having a fireside with our mission president, and I think I might be singing a solo for a musical number. It's not for sure, but if I do me and Alexia will be doing the same thing haha kinda cool. 

Today we are going down to Harlem! Gonna go meet some other missionaries at Rucker park to play some basketball (: I'm excited! It should be fun. Then later today we are going to a members home because her son is coming home from his mission and arrives today! And he needs companions until tomorrow when he gets released. But yeah. It's crazy. Life is good, I'm enjoying the work, I'm happy. We aren't hungry, the people here are amazing, we have people to teach.. I really have no complaints! I hope all is well with all of you. One love!! 

Look what I learned how to do! 

May 14, 2014.

I'm doing good! I can't believe Karla is graduated from college....... That's insane! I'm glad you and dad were able to take the day off so that you could go and be with Karla. He is a busy man.. Mom you are awesome, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Thanks for everything you do!

Aww man, spring sing! I wish I could've been there. It sounds like Beto is just getting better and better at singing.. Alexia too!  I hope high school is everything she expects it to be.. I miss high school haha those were the days..

I don't think I need too much help with school.. I'm not really sure how to go about doing things, I might even need to wait until I get home to figure all of that out even though it will be really rushed! I don't think I need scholarships yet because it's community college.. Those will come in handy when I transfer to a university in a year.. I think I'm gonna start looking into all that soon. 

Things are going well with our area. We are still really busy and teaching a lot. There's a few people we think can be baptized before the end of the cycle.. We just have to help them realize it! The past couple of weeks have been awesome because with the combining of the areas I now get to meet and interact with all of the members I didn't get to be with before and it's been so fun! The members here are awesome and love us so much, and getting to know them means more trust ... Which is what we need with everyone! I don't have much else to say since we talked on Sunday.  But I love you guys! I hope you have a good week (:

May 7, 2014.

Hey everyone!

I'm writing a short email today since we're gonna chat soon.

Yeah. It's all good, my hair will grow back! That's awesome that Alexia had a solo! Haha that'll be cool to go home and be able to sing a song with full parts as siblings..  ? I'm so excited to watch beto play volleyball. I be he's grown so much since I left.. 

What else did you do for your birthday?

We had such an amazing week, but I won't spend too much time tellingly about it because I'm gonna see you guys on Sunday! So just ask me about it then haha but here are some pictures so you can see what we've been up to here in Stamford. 

Also, I'm gonna call around 8 o clock here.. Which is 5 over there! I hope that works? And I hope that's not inconvenient for the missionaries over there.. Tell them I'm sorry!

April 30, 2014.

Hey guys! 

Sorry, today is transfers and that's always a little crazy, so I'm just writing a general email! 

So, I'm staying in Stamford. My companion elder Stephens left to the Bronx! But they didn't send a replacement.. Haha so what's happening is they're combining our area with our roommates' area so I am now in a trio with Elders Gamble and Bailey! We're already all good friends so I know we are gonna have fun! We are gonna be suuuuppeerrr busy. So far in the past two days we've taught 13 lessons because we are doing the work for two companionships as one unit.. 13 lessons in two days is a lot! My guess is we'll be averaging about 25 lessons a week if we can keep up with all the work there is to do. Which hopefully means we'll have a few baptisms this cycle- I'll be keeping you guys posted!

It's been a good week, things are really looking up. 

So yesterday I went to the barbershop to get my hair trimmed up cuz it was getting a little long.. But the barber messed up BAD so I had to tell him to just cut it all off.. So now I'm back to my short hair again. Except this time I didn't want it.. But it's whatever! Just gonna grow it out again.. As for Mother's Day, we still aren't sure what time we are gonna be calling.. I can call after 2:30 Arizona time right? That's 5:30 here.. I just want to make sure. 

Today a few of my really good friends in the mission ended their missions.. It's so crazy to see them go! It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that missions end.. This is our whole life and then when the time is up we have no option but to give it up... Soon that will be me! 

I'm sorry you guys get a lame email today, time is on the short end for sure. We have a lot to do today! I hope all is well, I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and your support (: have a good week!

April 23, 2014.

I'm not sure what the plan is for Mother's Day. It's after transfers so the plans are gonna depend on what happens during transfer next week! If I stay in Stamford I'll be able to skype from my apartment haha we have church till about 1:30.. So I'd probly be able to skype anytime in the afternoon or evening? What times work better for all of you? My pull ups have not improved at all since last week. I think it's actually gotten worse.. So I think the update will have to wait until I can do more than I did that one day haha 

Last p day was sick. We rode like 20 ish miles on the bikes.. I loved it! Definitely an opportunity I will likely never have again. Today we went to the skatepark for a little bit and I rode a skateboard in there.. It's been so long! But it was fun. There's an elder here that is really good! But he actually ended up tweaking the skateboard haha it was really funny. In a little bit we are going to new Canaan to go hang out at some member's house.. They have a tennis court and basketball court and a trampoline and soooo we're just gonna go kick it for a little while! Should be good.

This week was pretty good and weird. A few days ago my coach at MCC emailed me again and just told me to get my hands on a basketball if I can.. And we play every morning so I figured I could always do more.. So Monday and Tuesday I convinced one of the elders I live with to wake up at 5:30 with me and go to the church before everyone gets there to be able to do some shooting drills.. We'll probly be waking up that early 4 days a week cuz I really want to play basketball when I come home! I don't want to pass up any opportunities.. 

 On Monday we had a training on faith given by our mission president. It was so good! It was really refreshing because lately all we've been hearing about has been Facebook and online stuff and honestly the online stuff is still not my favorite. So receiving an actual training was really good. We talked about having true faith as missionaries and having sufficient confidence in God to call down the powers of Heaven. It really made all of us think and ask ourselves if we really have that confidence in God to pray for things and actually expect to receive what we are asking for. We set a goal as a mission to have 100 baptisms between now and the end of May... Which in this mission is a TON... But I think we can do it. I'm hoping to be able to contribute.. It's been a little while since I've had a baptism. But regardless, I'm happy. I know I'm successful in other ways! 

We haven't been able to meet with Carlos since last time I wrote. We actually just found some things out from his wife which I don't feel like I can share over email but it doesn't look like Carlos will be ready by May 3rd or anytime soon. But we are trying to have faith and help them overcome this obstacle.. Tonight we are gonna meet with a family of 5 who seem pretty promising! They came to the primary Easter egg hunt activity and were really eager to meet with us. We are teaching them at another members house so hopefully we can get them going! 

Me and my companion are getting along really well. Even though I want to go to the city, I also want to stay with elder Stephens haha he is awesome and we have a lot of fun together. Next week you guys will know if there's any changes or not! I hope you all have a good week! 

April 16, 2014.

My week. And stuff.

Sorry you haven't received any pictures lately. I actually haven't sent any home at all for a long time. The reason is cuz now almost every picture and video gets taken on our iPads.. And I can't send that home haha but I'll see what I can do about sending some home soon. 

So we bought our broadway tickets this week! We bought tickets to watch wicked on July 9th ! I'm pumped :) a lot of my friends out here are going with us so I know that will be an awesome experience! 

This week was pretty good! We met with Carlos and his wife. They are awesome! We taught him about baptism and the Holy Ghost.. He is right now praying about whether or not he wants to be baptized on May 3rd. He is doing so good! At the end of our lesson he said that eventually he would like to be sealed to his family!! Haha so even tho he hasn't officially decided to be baptized yet, we know he has a long term goal of living the gospel with his family. We are super excited for him. Hopefully he gets an answer to his prayers soon! Riding the bikes has been so fun. We're able to talk to a lot more people and lately we've been stopping by some parks and asking if we can play ball with people. We haven't taught any lessons out of it, but we are definitely introducing ourselves to a lot of the youth in our area. Some of them even want to exchange numbers after we play so that they can call us to come play again.. I love it! Hopefully we can turn all of that into something even more positive. 

Today we are going down to manhattan with out bikes.. We're gonna tour the island! We're gonna ride from Harlem down to battery park and probably the Brooklyn bridge and then back up. And on the way back up we are gonna eat lunch up by Times Square kinda. I'm really excited, it should be really fun! We are actually on the train right now from Stamford to the city and I'll just send this email off whenever I have wifi. So yeah. Those are the plans today. I hope all of you have a good week! I love you. Church is true!